They say the early bird gets the worm, but what does the bird who passes up the worm get?

In Sharon that bird gets a second chance at breakfast, or in this case a sliver of land.

In the spring of 2000 Sharon City Council approved the sale of a 12-by-72-foot tract east of Veteran's Walkway in downtown Sharon to James E. Winner Jr., chairman of Sharon-based Winner International Corp., contingent upon certain conditions. Winner wanted the land to extend Donna's Diner.

It's three-and-a-half years later and the land transaction never went through because Winner International failed to complete it, according to Winner's attorney John Hornbostel.

Hornbostel asked council Monday to re-approve the transfer of land so Donna's Diner can still be extended. He told council someone who was employed by Winner and was working on the land transfer retired, and the land transfer slipped through the cracks.

Councilman Raymond Fabian asked Hornbostel if Donna's Diner -- which has been closed for months -- is for sale. Hornbostel said the diner is not for sale even though he agreed there is a "For Sale" sign posted on the property.